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Kitchens Design Dilemma

Awkward Oven Placement

Mandy Carpenter

10 months ago

Recently purchased a 1930’s home with a mostly original kitchen. I plan to restore the cabinets and tile counter that run along the north wall. But the gas oven is on its own in a corner across from everything. I’m struggling with ideas to make this feel integrated and intentional. (And have some counter space/storage)

Oven can only be moved a few inches max due to the gas line.
Furniture in image is the previous owners as I haven’t moved in yet.
Yellow wallpaper is being removed.

Open to any suggestions!

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Comments (10)

siriuskey
10 months ago
I dislike cooktops next to doorways as it's dangerous.

1) can you move the dining doorway across

2) Swing the cooktop onto the RH wall with a small cabinet/benchtop either side

3) have cooktop across the corner and again benchtop on both sides
bigreader
10 months ago
Are you sure it’s a gas oven with electric cooktop? Either way get a quote to move the connections. As the oven isn’t built in it may not be as much as you think. The oven wouldn’t have been originally in that spot so there may also be an old connection somewhere more suitable than could be recommissioned.
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Hi Lyn, There have been some really good comments made. None however have addressed the front door issue. The problem you outline currently is that you have 4 spaces divided either by function or circulation paths and so it is hard to combine these to make 3 useable spaces, i.e, kitchen, dining and living, in what is essentially a square space. I would say the aim is to make the living space larger and eliminate the spare space. If you are currently coming in the dining sliding door, I assume that is the 'front' of the house. I would put a new front door in the corner of the dining space, where you have the stack of suitcases. Recess that into the space by 500-800mm and create a sitting space adjacent the kitchen. Extend a half height wall or dividing screen (see image below and let your imagination wander!!!) beyond the 500-800mm recess to create a 1500mm space separating the front entry from the sitting space. See plan attached. I'd replace the dining sliding doors with a narrower window with a low sill of about 400-500mm high. I'd put a small but comfy 2 seater couch in this space so when you have friends for dinner they can interact with whomever is cooking. This gives a function to the fourth space. I'd then delete the drawer unit beside the fridge and the wall behind it and take out the higher portion of the wall around the fireplace. This will make it feel more open. Leave posts if needed for structural reasons and add more high level storage in the kitchen to compensate for the lost drawers. You may need to double check bracing requirements and add some to other walls if needed. Then I'd put the dining table where you currently have the TV lounge. This will now be partly open to the kitchen for easy family life. The fridge will be easily accessible to the new dining area, which now will not be a circulation space. The living space can then spill out a bit to get a better distance from the couch to the tv and put the two couches at right angles to each other in the current casual sitting space. You can place one down the centre line of the house looking out the new bi-fold doors with space either end to the hallway door and the fireplace at the other. Push this one back a bit into the current dining space to make the new living space bigger. The other couch would back onto the new dining space with a gap to the fireplace. The couches are interchangeable depending on the space you have and whether you intend buying new. TV can go on the cow art wall. If you prefer one couch to go on the cow art wall, build a new short wall between the living and new dining to put the tv on. Only as long as it needs to be for the tv. This would not be my first option though as it divides the space but also gives a wall to put a side board on for the dining if the space is big enough. Good luck, C.
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Mandy Carpenter
Original Author
10 months ago
You know, you may be correct. However it did appear to be hooked up to a gas line when we pulled it from the wall but I will definitely double check next time I’m there! Unfortunately my only image is too blurry to search model.

And definitely agree with the first post on moving away from the door- will be much easier if this is in fact electric.
oklouise
10 months ago
last modified: 10 months ago
can you share floor plans so we can better understand the spaces but swopping the fridge and stove would be the easiest option but do you intend to keep the original shallow cabinets or replace with deeper cabinet and counters?
dreamer
10 months ago
If the oven/cooktop is electric, then I would look at swapping the oven and fridge positions. Removing the overhead cupboards where the fridge is currently. However, you will need to install the correct electrical cable to power the oven. It will need a dedicated power source. There are sooo many doors in that room. The whole room needs to be looked at for a less thoroughfare arrangement. A floor plan would be good. Also depends on your budget to make this kitchen work.
dreamer
10 months ago
Maybe the cable your looking at behind oven is the dedicated power source, not a gas line.
Mandy Carpenter
Original Author
10 months ago
Here is the floor plan- not the most useful as it doesn’t show walls. But yea it is essentially a galley kitchen with the oven section and back entryway/basement access.

Another kitchen angle for reference. Budget is limited, at least initially. But definitely open to both short and long term solutions for when I can do something larger. I’d like to preserve the tile, so nothing that would knock that out, but the fridge swap is an option. That would also solve the need to a shorter refrigerator due to the cabinet height.
dreamer
10 months ago
I would seriously look at moving the dining door to the right , then all the doors are on one side of the room. The easy fix would be to install built in cabinetry where the dishwasher is, completely across that wall, tapering to narrow storage near window. Wall for Oven, microwave, and storage. Possibly move dishwasher to under bench cabinets with sink. A good cabinet maker could integrate the dishwasher using original cabinetry.
bigreader
10 months ago
Are you in Australia? You’re posting on Australian Houzz.
wendyec
10 months ago
If there is access under the house than it would probably not be that expensive to have a plumber ( or electrician) move the connections for your stove. Looking at your photos, the logical place for your stove would be between the dishwasher and microwave, opposite the sink.

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